Page 182 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

Outside, André Le Nôtre’s gardens
9 " \
Château de Vaux- are truly stunning, with magni ficent
le-Vicomte terraces, lakes and foun tains
descending to a formal canal.
! E2 ⌂ Maincy, Seine-et-
Marne @ From Melun sta-
tion (Mar–Nov: daily; Dec-
Feb: Wed–Sun) # Hours with panelled walls and an French royal history. Since
1897, it has been the presi-
impressive tri umphal frieze.
EXPERIENCE Île-de-France This château north of Melun is not overwhelming. adorned with Empire-style
vary, check website
dent’s official summer home.
However, its many rooms
∑ vaux-le-vicomte.com
Its oak-panelled rooms are
feel intimate and the scale
Outside, André Le Nôtre’s
furnishings and Aubusson
enjoys a peaceful rural loca-
tapestries. The main façade
tion. Nicolas Fouquet, a pow-
gardens are truly stunning
overlooks Classical parterres.
(and the main draw for vis-
erful court financier to Louis
itors), with magni ficent ter-
Nearby is the Château de
XIV, chal lenged the archi tect
races, lakes and fountains
Thoiry, which has an innova-
Le Vau and the decorator
Le Brun to create the most
sumptuous palace of the
day. The result was Vaux-le- descending to a formal canal. tive play area for children.
Vicomte – and Fouquet’s
downfall: Louis and his minis- 10 " ' 11 '
ters were so enraged – because Château de Château de Sceaux
its luxury cast all the royal Rambouillet ! D3 ⌂ Domaine de
palaces into the shade – that ! D3 ⌂ Domaine National Sceaux, Hauts-de-Seine
they arrested the financier. de Rambouillet, 77120 W Bourg-la-Reine, Sceaux,
The château’s interior is a Rambouillet # 9:50am– Parc de Sceaux @ 192, 197
gilded banquet of frescoes, noon & 1:50–5pm Wed–Sun # Nov–Feb: 1–5pm Tue–Sun;
stucco, caryatids and giant (to 6pm Apr–Sep) ¢ 1 Jan, Mar–Oct: 2–6:30pm Tue–
busts. The Salon des Muses 1 May, 1 Nov, 11 Nov, 25 Dec Sun ¢ 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec
boasts Le Brun’s magnificent ∑ chateau-rambouillet.fr ∑ domaine-de-sceaux.
frescoed ceiling of dancing hauts-de-seine.fr
nymphs and poetic sphinxes. Bordering the deep Forêt de
La Grande Chambre Carrée is Rambouillet stands this beau- Built for Colbert in 1670,
decorated in Louis XIII style tiful ivy-covered red-brick the original château was
château, flanked by five stone
towers. Adopted variously as a
feudal castle, country estate,
royal palace and imperial resi-
dence, it is a composite of

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